Yuki Bhambri plays first Davis Cup rubber

INDORE: Chinese Taipei may be without its top two players - world No. 54 Yen-Hsun Lu and No. 154 Jimmy Wang - but that's not to say that the visiting side is sans firepower against a full-strength Indian side.
The hosts, fielding Somdev Devvarman (ranked 103) and Yuki Bhambri (ranked 173) in singles action in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group One opener, starting Friday, will have to bring their 'A' game to the courts.
At the draw ceremony, watched by some 4000 fans who cheered the Indians lustily, it was decided that the 21-year-old Yuki would take on 22-year-old Tsung-Hua Yang (216) in the opening singles while the 28-year-old Somdev would play the Taipei No. 2, 30-year-old Ti Chen (284).
Interestingly, Somdev, who has struggled for form this year - his ranking having dropped 12 spots in his two weeks of competition - had beaten Chen in 2009 in India's 3-2 away win.
"The first match is always important. I'm looking forward to it, I want to put some pressure on Taipei. Hopefully, we will be up 1-0 after the first match," Yuki said, during the draw ceremony.
Yang, who arrived on Wednesday, said he liked the courts at the ITC tennis venue. "Yuki and I know each other for a long time, we know each other's game well. It'll be a tough match,'' he said.
In the second day's action on Saturday, comeback-man Rohan Bopanna, who survived an injury scare coming into the tie, will pair with debutant Saketh Myneni.
Bopanna and Myneni take on Hsien-Yin Peng and Hsin-Han Lee. The reverse singles will be played on Sunday.
Bopanna, still struggling to find the pace he's capable off on a doubles court, said, "It feels great to be back in the side. We have a new captain and I'm looking forward to the tie."
Former Davis Cupper Anand Amritraj, the new non-playing captain of the Indian side, will make his debut in Indore. The older of the Amritraj brothers and a keen thinker of the game, Anand said his team is ready for the task.
"He (Somdev) came from 650 to finish the year (2013) at 90 and that's absolutely unbelievable," Anand said.
"That's why he was nominated as one of the most improved players of the year along with Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo. This year, he got a tough draw in the Australian Open. He has played only two tournaments so far and it's not that he's playing badly. He's playing fine, he just needs more matches. Perhaps the Davis Cup will be good for him," he added.
On his No. 2 player, Anand said, "Yuki played well in the Chennai Open. He also won two doubles matches in the Australian Open. He has played very well here in practice. Both Somdev and Yuki are top-50 material (in singles)."
Friday's action: 10 am start: Yuki Bhambri (Ind-173) vs Tsung- Hua Yang (Chinese Taipei-216); Somdev Devvarman (Ind-103) vs Ti Chen (Chinese Taipei-284).